Positioning fixture for use in attaching impact fuse assemblies within the nose cap of a missile



June 3, 1969 5. J. BROWN 7 3, 2

" POSITIONING FIXTURE FOR USE IN ATTACHING IMPACT FUSE ASSEMBLIES WITHIN THE NOSE CAP OF A MISSILE Filed Feb. 27. 1967 FIG. 2

Sterling J. Brown INVENTOR.

BY M J. W

J/MM

United States Patent 3,447,223 POSITIONING FIXTURE FOR USE IN ATTACHING IMPACT FUSE ASSEMBLIES WITHIN THE NOSE CAP OF A MISSILE Sterling J. Brown, Huntsville, Ala., assignor, by mesne assignments, to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed Feb. 27, 1967, Ser. No. 619,528 Int. Cl. B23p 19/04 US. Cl. 29-200 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A positioning fixture including a central shaft having a first locator disc carried by the lower end thereof and adapted for securement of impact fuse assemblies thereto, and having a second locator disc secured coaxially about the shaft. The second locator disc has alignment means which, when aligned with fixed alignment means on the assembly ring of the missile nose cap, assure accurate positioning of the impact fuse assemblies within the nose cap.

This invention relates to a positioning fixture and more particularly to a positioning fixture for use in attaching impact fuse amounts or assemblies within the spherical nose cap of a missile.

The positioning fixture according to the present invention provides means for accurately positioning and aligning impact fuse assemblies thereby overcoming disadvantages of existing devices. For example, this fixture has the advantages over known apparatus of this type in that its use reduces the possibility of error and aids in producing an assembly that is sturdy and dimensionally correct.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a positioning fixture that is (adapted for use in accurately positioning and aligning a plurality of impact fuse assemblies within a missile nose cap.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a positioning device which is economical to produce and which is reusable.

A further object of the invention is to provide a positioning fixture which is useful both for drilling the appropriate holes in the nose cap and for aligning the securement means within said holes.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become evident from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a nose cap supported within a mounting base and broken away to show the positioning fixture in operative position; and

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of the positioning fixture in operative position within the nose cap.

Referring now to the drawing, FIGURE 1, there is shown a missile nose cap supported within the support ring 12 of a mounting base 14. The upper end of the nose cap is provided with an annular recessed portion 16 for receiving the forward end of a missile body (not shown) for attachment thereto. An assembly ring 20 is rigidly secured concentrically within the nose cap in a position spaced inwardly from the spherical nose portion 18. The assembly ring includes a radial flange portion 22 which is provided with a radially extending scribe line 24 and a pair of diametrically opposed apertures 26 (FIG- URE 2) for receiving a pair of aligning screws or pins 28. While only a single scribe line 24 and only a pair of apertures 26 are illustrated, a plurality of scribe lines and a plurality of paired apertures may be provided, in practice, to allow for a wide range of adjustments as will be described in detail hereinafter.

Patented June 3, 1969 ice The positioning fixture, designated generally by reference numeral 30, includes a first locator plate or disc 32 having an aligning shaft 34 extending axially from one side thereof. Locator disc 32 is provided with a plurality of fastening screws 36 which extend therethrough for afiixing thereto a plurality of impact fuse units or assemblies 40. The number and type of fuse assemblies may be varied as required, e.g., for a particular weapon system or for obtaining particular results. Each fuse assembly is formed on its side edges with ears 41 having mounting apertures 42 to adapt the assembly for securement to spherical portion 18 of the nose cap.

T 0 provide means for aligning locator disc 32 in a predetermined position coaxially within the nose cap, a second locator disc 46 is provided. The latter disc includes an inner, cylindrical recessed portion 48 and an outer, radially extending flange 50. Flange 50 is provided on its upper surface with a radially extending scribe line 52 for coalignment with scribe line 24 and is provided with a pair of diametrically opposite apertures for alignment with apertures 26. Cylindrical portion 48 is provided with an elongated, axially extending, aligning sleeve 54 for matingly receiving shaft 34. An iannular recess 56 is formed in the lower side of cylindrical portion 48 for receiving a compression spring 58 surrounding shaft 34. To insure a predetermined radial position of locator disc 32, sleeve 54 carries a lock pin 60 (FIGURE 1) near its upper end. Lock pin 60 extends normal to the axis of shaft 34, and the inner end thereof is adapted for engagement Within a vertically elongated slot 62 formed in the perpihery of the shaft. Locator disc 46 is formedwith a plurality of cut-out portions defining access openings 64 to permit a drill to be inserted therethrough for drilling securement holes in the nose cap which holes correspond with the securement apertures in the impact fuse assemblies.

OPERATION To position a plurality of impact fuse assemblies 40 with a predetermined orientation within nose cap 10 supported in a vertical position (FIGURE 1), each fuse assembly is secured to locator disc 32 preferably as by a. pair of screws 36, and the locator disc is placed within the central portion of the nose cap with shaft 34 extending vertically. A compression spring 58 is then inserted about shaft 34. Locator disc 46 is positioned with shaft 34 telescopingly received within and extending through sleeve 54. Thus, with radial flange 50 of disc 46 superimposed on assembly ring flange 22, respective scribe lines 24 and 52 may be aligned and locator screws 28 inserted through apertures 26. By gripping the upper end of shaft 34 and moving the same vertically upwardly against the bias of spring 58, the shaft may be rotated relative to the sleeve about a common axis until locking pin 60 engages in slot 62 provided in the circumference of the shaft (FIGURE 1). While the illustrated embodiment of the invention is limited to a single slot 62, a wider range of adjustment may be effected by the provision of a plurality of such slots spaced circumferentially about the periphery of the aligning shaft. For example, it may be desirable to have the impact fuse assemblies oriented to be in direct alignment with or otfset by a particular angle from the missile tail fins (not shown) or an instrument section (not shown). Accordingly, by plac ing locator screws 28 in the apertures in flanges 50 and 22 and by engaging pin 60 within slot 62, the impact fuse assemblies are accurately positioned with a predetermined orientation within the nose cap. A drill (not shown) may then be inserted sequentially through an access opening 64 and a fuse assembly mounting aperture 42 for drilling an aligning aperture 15 in the nose cap. In practice, it is preferable to drill at least a pair of aligning apertures for each assembly in order to obtain a more rigid arrangement. After the mounting apertures are drilled and the drill is removed, fastening means, such as screws or rivets, are secured in the respective aligning apertures thereby rigidly securing the fuse assemblies in place within the spherical portion of the nose cap. Locator disc 46 may then be removed by releasing pin 60 from frictional engagement within slot 62, by removing means 28, and by lifting the disc upwardly, free of shaft 34. Thus, after removing fastening means 36 from securement with the impact fuse assemblies, locator disc 32 may be lifted from within the nose cap, and the fixture is ready for reuse.

Thus, the positioning device provides means for accurately placing the impact fuse assemblies in a predetermined orientation within the nose cap. The device is simple to use, is reuseable, sand is readily adjustable.

While the positioning fixture has been described as to its use in orienting and positioning impact fuse assemblies, it should be apparent that the fixture has utility in positioning instruments and other devices within a missile nose cap.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment herein illustrated and described but may be used in other ways without departure from its spirit as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a positioning fixture for attaching a plurality of impact fuse assemblies within the nose cap of a missile including, a mounting base having a supporting ring disposed in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis, said nose cap being secured within said supporting ring coaxially thereof, said nose cap having an assembly ring concentrically disposed and rigidly secured therein, said assembly ring having a pair of diametrically opposed apertures formed therein, each said fuse assembly having at least a pair of spaced-apart apertures provided in its outer edge, said positioning fixture comprising: a first locator disc having a shaft extending axially from one side thereof and adapted to carry a plurality of said irnpact'fuse assemblies on the opposite side thereof; and a second looator disc having an inner cylindrical portion for disposition within the interior of said assembly ring and an outer, annular flange for overlapping engagement with the upper surface of said assembly ring, said outer flange having a pair of diametrically opposed apertures for alignment with the assembly ring apertures, said inner cylindrical portion having a plurality of access openings whereby a drill may be inserted therethrough and aligned with said fuse assembly apertures for drilling corresponding holes in said nose cap.

2. A positioning fixture as defined in claim 1 wherein said second locator disc has an elongated sleeve coaxially extending from the upper side thereof for receiving said shaft therethrough.

3. A positioning fixture as defined in claim 2 including means operatively positioned on said sleeve for locking said sleeve in a predetermined location relative to said shaft.

4. A positioning fixture as defined in claim 3 wherein said locking means includes a vertically extending slot in the periphery of said shaft and a locking pin carried by said sleeve and extending normal thereto, the inner end of said pin being adapted for extending into engagement within said slot for positively locking said sleeve against rotation relative to the shaft and for limiting relative vertical movement between the shaft and sleeve.

5. A positioning fixture as defined in claim 4 wherein said slot is elongated to the extent that said locking pin is allowed to move in a direction vertically within the ends thereof, and wherein resilient means surrounds said aligning shaft in disposition intermediate said first and said second locator discs thereby normally urging said discs apart.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,580,426 4/1926 Farnam. 2,409,706 10/ 1946 Reppa.

- 3,286,335 11/1966 Di Pietra 7763 X 3,368,266 2/1968 Shultz.

THOMAS H. EAGER, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 7762, 63 

